Neoseeker's Holiday Guide 2009 - PAGE 8

"For those coming in from the previous games, it seems like EA has done a large amount of work and given much more control to the player. The precision pass mode is huge to jump forward when combined with board play, push puck, flip dump, the drop pass, and fake shots.

NHL 10 brings hockey to the masses in a form that isn’t intimidating. With so many ways to ease the difficulty it seems like anyone can join in and have a good time even if they never play hardcore with superstar difficulty.Our time with NHL 10 left great impressions, and it's safe to say NHL 10 is truly worthy of the National Hockey League title."

"DiRT 2 grows with the player; as they complete more races and climb up the ranks, new challenges wait for them. Players will notice the grade of difficulty rising as they go up the ladder, taxing their concentration, not to mention the class-based races they must progress through. In short, the challenge is more than enough to keep players glued to their controllers for some time. For us, DiRT 2 offers a solid combination of single and multiplayer experiences that seems absent in many titles today. Couple that with a difficulty ladder so high it could make even dedicated racing fans weep, it’s hard to deny the game respect and for that, it is one of the must grab racing titles for 2009."

"Gamers have a lot to be enthusiastic about this year; NBA Live 10 isn’t the perfect game for fans of basketball but it is a departure from many of the issues that surrounded the series over past years. Now we're able to feel out dynamic environments, see reactive crowds, and have settings tailored to the occasion; finals matches in this installment see the stadium alive in a new way. It’s a unique experience to see a game grow forward instead of just slapping features on until it's lost itself. Live 10 makes solid strides to bring old fans back to the game and stick around; it is worth the stroll for the latest offering from EA."

"As a racing game, Forza 3 brings communities together and delivers on its goal of being accessible by a gamer of any generation or any background. One may find himself racing head-to-head with a friend unfamiliar with racing games as they use autobrake to support themselves around the track, not finishing first but doing respectablly well as they feel themselves putting it all on the line. When we first heard about it, it was a unique thrill to find a game that thrives to rise to the next peak of racing while taking a whole community up and introducing them to it. Essentially, Forza 3 combines relentless simulation with consumer friendly control in a mix unlike that which we have seen before.

For us, Forza 3 delivers a great simulation experience with a rewarding group aesthetic. We can play this with friends without alienating everyone in the room, turning it up to 11 on the track and then doing the next race with a new friend bumping and shoving cars around, helping them take first. All told, there isn’t anything like it on the market right now and the execution is spot on."

The music games section has been expanded to include The Beatles Rock Band, among other things.You'll also find games like Dragon Age on there as well.Just some extra content until we come out with the official Part 2.

The music games section has been expanded to include The Beatles Rock Band, among other things.You'll also find games like Dragon Age on there as well.Just some extra content until we come out with the official Part 2.

I hate living where I do. I have to order all this stuff in if I want it. I'm still shocked that my local game store no longer stocks Risen. Apparently a month old game is too old to order more stock in for.

Have you considered digital downloads?

Mishtram, it's not sort of, it is absolutely Gothic 4, just not named so for legal reasons (the upcoming Arcania: A Gothic Tale, from a different studio, sounds barely like Gothic...they're changing everything, seemingly for the worse).

I prefer games that let me discover them instead of shoving themselves in my face.

It's even more gorgeous in action. Mmmmm.You should be able to if your PC is decent, but on low settings it looks quite different. Still very playable but not so much with the "wowwww" factor. I would say it's worth upgrading for, absolutely, if you can't run it.

I hate living where I do. I have to order all this stuff in if I want it. I'm still shocked that my local game store no longer stocks Risen. Apparently a month old game is too old to order more stock in for.

Have you considered digital downloads?

Mishtram, it's not sort of, it is absolutely Gothic 4, just not named so for legal reasons (the upcoming Arcania: A Gothic Tale, from a different studio, sounds barely like Gothic...they're changing everything, seemingly for the worse).

I prefer games that let me discover them instead of shoving themselves in my face.

It's even more gorgeous in action. Mmmmm.You should be able to if your PC is decent, but on low settings it looks quite different. Still very playable but not so much with the "wowwww" factor. I would say it's worth upgrading for, absolutely, if you can't run it.